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Exploring the service and knowledge gap between rehabilitation professionals and employers in the return-to-work process of people with mental health problems in Sweden

Lexén, Annika LU ; Emmelin, Maria LU ; Hansson, Lars LU and Bejerholm, Ulrika LU (2019) In Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation 64(3). p.495-506
Abstract
Background: Research is needed on how to optimize the return-to-work process for persons with mental health problems.

Objective: To develop a model that explains how employer and rehabilitation professional mental health literacy may influence strategies used in the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems.

Methods: A grounded theory study design was used to collect and analyse interview data from 23 employers and 22 rehabilitation professionals.

Results: The analysis resulted in four categories, illustrated in a conceptual process model: 1) seeing mental health problems through past experiences; 2) separating understandable and incomprehensible mental health problems; 3) balancing safeguarding one’s... (More)
Background: Research is needed on how to optimize the return-to-work process for persons with mental health problems.

Objective: To develop a model that explains how employer and rehabilitation professional mental health literacy may influence strategies used in the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems.

Methods: A grounded theory study design was used to collect and analyse interview data from 23 employers and 22 rehabilitation professionals.

Results: The analysis resulted in four categories, illustrated in a conceptual process model: 1) seeing mental health problems through past experiences; 2) separating understandable and incomprehensible mental health problems; 3) balancing safeguarding one’s personal interest with providing adequate support; and 4) facing conflicts and uncertainty in employee/service user return-to-work. A positional map of employer/rehabilitation types was created based on level of negative attitudes and uncertainty in supporting employees/service users and the employer in relation to the level of comprehensive understanding of mental health problems.

Conclusions: Professional mental health literacy needs to be increased. Interventions need to be developed that provide employers with targeted support and knowledge in mental health literacy. Education on how to prevent and detect common mental health problems in the workplace is needed. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation
volume
64
issue
3
pages
12 pages
publisher
IOS Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85075808265
  • pmid:31658083
ISSN
1875-9270
DOI
10.3233/WOR-193011
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
95706e8a-ef0c-4ff6-9c60-c7f29dda3470
date added to LUP
2019-06-03 14:02:48
date last changed
2022-04-26 01:03:30
@article{95706e8a-ef0c-4ff6-9c60-c7f29dda3470,
  abstract     = {{Background: Research is needed on how to optimize the return-to-work process for persons with mental health problems.<br/><br/>Objective: To develop a model that explains how employer and rehabilitation professional mental health literacy may influence strategies used in the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems.<br/><br/>Methods: A grounded theory study design was used to collect and analyse interview data from 23 employers and 22 rehabilitation professionals.<br/><br/>Results: The analysis resulted in four categories, illustrated in a conceptual process model: 1) seeing mental health problems through past experiences; 2) separating understandable and incomprehensible mental health problems; 3) balancing safeguarding one’s personal interest with providing adequate support; and 4) facing conflicts and uncertainty in employee/service user return-to-work. A positional map of employer/rehabilitation types was created based on level of negative attitudes and uncertainty in supporting employees/service users and the employer in relation to the level of comprehensive understanding of mental health problems.<br/><br/>Conclusions: Professional mental health literacy needs to be increased. Interventions need to be developed that provide employers with targeted support and knowledge in mental health literacy. Education on how to prevent and detect common mental health problems in the workplace is needed.}},
  author       = {{Lexén, Annika and Emmelin, Maria and Hansson, Lars and Bejerholm, Ulrika}},
  issn         = {{1875-9270}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{495--506}},
  publisher    = {{IOS Press}},
  series       = {{Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation}},
  title        = {{Exploring the service and knowledge gap between rehabilitation professionals and employers in the return-to-work process of people with mental health problems in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/WOR-193011}},
  doi          = {{10.3233/WOR-193011}},
  volume       = {{64}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}